Offor, Finnie make their choices

We haven't even reached August and the local college football commitments are taking center stage.

On Monday, Hialeah American defensive end Godspower Offor (6-3, 220) and Miami Central defensive back Thomas Finnie (5-10, 165) have joined the growing list of athletes making that important decision.

Offor, who was a Miami Herald discovery back in his freshman season, has parlayed tremendous athletic ability with superb grades in the classroom to grab the attention of several top-flight college programs.

His decision to attend Wake Forest University, an impressive academic/athletic school in the Atlantic Coast Conference was something that most expected as the Demon Deacons have been in him since last year.

"I remember the first time we had watched him play in the spring of his freshman season," said Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald. "You could tell that he was going to be something, just watching him move around the field."

While Offor was telling the Wake Forest coaching staff that he will be headed to North Carolina, another top-rated Miami-Dade County prospect was making it known that he was going to compete in the Southeastern Conference.

Headed to play for head coach Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks, Finnie has emerged as one of the top defensive backs in southern Florida, and was a catalyst during the Rockets' impressive run in 2009.

"Finnie has great size, can cover extremely well and play the run as well," said recruiting analyst Rich Barimo. "I watched him two years ago as a sophomore, and then had the pleasure of seeing him last year. He has really matured into a top prospect."

Finnie is the fourth Central player to commit over the past two weeks. Running back Devonta Freeman (FSU), lineman Marquis Lucas (Rutgers) and linebacker Oliver Vigille told Syracuse he was going to play for the Orange.